AUSTIN, Texas — One person is dead after a police shooting in South Austin early Tuesday morning.
At 12:29 a.m. on Nov. 15, 911 received a call stating a man with a gun was outside of a neighboring house in the 2200 block of South Third Street. The caller clarified that the man was holding a rifle and was pointing it directly a home.
The Austin Police Department (APD) dispatched officers to the scene a minute later, according to APD Chief Joseph Chacon, while the caller stayed on the line with the dispatch unit.
The caller said the man seemed to be scared of something inside of his own home and was turning the outside lights on and off. The caller said the man was pointing his rifle at the interior of his home. The caller then stated the man fired into his own home.
Officers arrived on scene at 12:33 a.m. Police said shots could be heard on the officers' bodycam videos as they exited their vehicles. The first officer gave a verbal command to the man, identified as 33-year-old Rajan David Moonesinghe, to drop the gun. The officer shot at Moonesinghe, who was struck and then fell to the ground.
Once Moonesinghe's weapon was secured, three officers approached and began life-saving measures, the APD said. Officers checked the house and did not locate anyone inside.
Emergency medical services were cleared to come to the scene at 12:37 a.m. and took over the life-saving measures. Moonesinghe was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
The rifle observed on the ground near Mr. Moonesinghe and several spent shell casings were recovered and seized as evidence.
During the shooting, all officers' bodycam and car camera footage was active. The video is being reviewed and will be released in approximately 10 business days.
The officer who shot the man is on administrative duty pending the investigation. The officer has two years and nine months of service with the department.
No one else in the area was shot or injured during the incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS, or use the Crime Stoppers App.
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